Senior send-off Everything you ever wanted to know about the class of 2012
vol. 100, no. 57
wednesday, may 9, 2012
1 SECTION, 12 PAGES
Features page 4
graduation
Ceremonies to honor graduates Mark smith editor in chief
CHANGING OF THE
intends to use her position to further SA’s relationship with ACU students. “I’m really hoping I can further connect the student body,” Coppedge said. “My main desire is to make them more aware of what officers are doing in SA. I want to get students more involved and I know that’s a very hard task.”
About 556 undergraduate students will walk across the stage in Moody Coliseum to accept their diplomas Saturday. The two commencement ceremonies are scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences will line up for the first ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in preparation of the 11 a.m. ceremony. Candidates in the College of Biblical Studies, College of Business Administration, College of Education and Human Services and the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing will line up 30 minutes before the 3 p.m. ceremony. A reception to honor graduates will follow each ceremony in the mall area. Dr. Jack Reese. dean of the College of Biblical Studies, will give the commencement address at both ceremonies. June Black, records specialist in the registrar’s office, said the exact number of walking graduates won’t be finalized until Wednesday. “We’re still getting all the information from students set for graduation, and the deadline is Wednesday,” Black said. “There are always a lot of changes in the last few days, but it’s running smoothly.” Preston Watkins, senior Ad/PR major from Manassas, Va., said he’s looking forward to graduating and walking Saturday morning. “I have mixed emotions because I’m done with school but it’s sad because everyone’s going their own ways,” Watkins said. “It will be a difficult yet fun transition.” For more information about the commencement ceremonies, visit http:// w w w. a c u . e d u / c a m p u soffices/registrar/gradua t i on /c om m e n c e m e nt . html.
contactjones at mnj10a@acu.edu
contact smith at mds10a@acu.edu
Dial begins her role as president of the Students’ Association
GUARD
Mandy Lambright Chief photographer
Rebecca DIal, junior political science major from Lexington, S.C., takes over as SA President Friday at the Changing of the Guard ceremony. job of the CFO is communication with student groups managing editor and with the treasurer to make sure everything runs The 2012-2013 Student’s As- smoothly and to make sure sociation’s cabinet has been the student groups get their finalized with the selection money and proper docuof a chief financial officer mentation in.” Coppedge will help SA and a chief communicamarket and advertise varitions officer. Kevin Coldeway, sopho- ous events. Dial said, “Julie will help more management major from Monahans, will serve us cut through the clutter to as CFO, and Julie Coppedge, get our message out to the junior Ad/PR major from students and really help us Amarillo, will serve as CCO. figure out which medium of They were chosen out of 11 advertising to use.” Dial said that the candicandidates who applied for dates’ experience was what the jobs. SA executive president, really stood out to her. Coldeway said he felt Rebecca Dial explained the significance of each posi- prepared for the CFO position. As CFO, Coldeway tion because of his past exworks closely with the ex- perience leading a Spring ecutive treasurer especially Break Campaign which during the budget process. required him to create and Dial said, “The crucial manage a $15,000 budget.
marissa jones
Coldeway looks forward to working with the various student groups. “I’ve been involved with student organizations before,” Coldeway said. “I thought this was a good opportunity to get plugged into every organization on campus” Coldeway expects to learn skills from his position as CFO that will be applicable to his career outside of ACU. Coldeway said, “I’m looking forward to the chance to get real hands on experiences of the things I’m learning in my major right now.” Coppedge is also looking forward to her new position. She has gained experience with marketing and advertising by working for Abilene Public Radio
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The crucial job of the CFO is communication with student groups and with the treasurer to make sure everything runs smoothly and to make sure the students get their money and proper documentation in.”
and Morris and Mitchell, teaching a publication design lab and creating freelance work. “I’ve been interested in this job since I was a freshman here at ACU, and I finally worked up the courage to apply for it,” Coppedge said. “I feel like there is no better way utilize the skills I have learned and put them to use for the good of the school.” Coppedge was surprised and excited the receive the position of CCO, and she
rebecca dial SA executive president
faculty
Senate elects 2012-13 members, officers does something and they would like to have faculty features editor input, one of the easiest ways is for them to contact New Faculty Senate mem- the senate and ask for help,” bers have been elected for Towell said. The senate meets every the 2012-2013 academic year. Dr. Rodney Ashlock, two weeks and often works assistant professor of Bible, on certain issues at the rewill serve as chair for the quest of the president or provost to give feedback on coming year. The Faculty Senate things happening at ACU. serves the university by It also has the ability to providing different deci- take the initiative to pursion making groups on sue an issue that the Faccampus with the perspec- ulty Senate members are tive of the faculty, said Dr. interested in investigating, Rusty Towell, chair and Towell said. The cancellation of dead professor of the Department of Engineering and day was an issue brought Physics. Towell is the cur- before this senate. “That was not a decirent chair of the Faculty Senate and will serve as sion made by the faculty senate, but the registrar past chair next year. “When the university did come and talk to us,”
samantha sutherland
“
ize they have a strong voice in the student government if they use it,” Coates said. “Students Association works with faculty to facilitate good things for everyone.” dr. rusty towel current chair of the faculty senate Coates said he would like to see the student government and the Faculty Senent perspective and talk to ate work together more in teachers about issues on the future, since they serve campus, whether it is about very similar purposes. “I view it as an impora speed bump or the cost of tant role because, for ACU tuition. Coates said the faculty is to fulfill its mission, the facalways happy to be a part of ulty voice needs to be heard the students’ lives. Faculty in implementing the misshare the same recreation sion,” Towell said. “So it’s center and food court, an opportunity to serve.” among other facilities, and hold some of the same issues and concerns as stucontact sutherland at dents. sns08a@acu.edu “Students need to real-
When the university does something and they would iike to have faculty input, one of the easiest ways is for them to contact the senate and ask for help.”
Towell said. “So, they sought our thoughts and then they went and made that decision.” Dr. Neal Coates, chair of the Department of Political Science, will be chair elect of the senate. Coates said the heart of the university is the faculty and they are directly involved in curriculum and student issues. Coates said students should look at the way ACU functions from a differ-
Faculty Senate officers for the upcoming acadmic year: Rodney Ashlock, Bible, missions and ministry, CBS, chair (2014) Neal Coates, political science, CAS chairelect (2015) Rusty Towell. engineering and phyics, CAS, past chair (2013)
inside news
sports
videos
graduation
Graduation commencement to give honors awards
Softball team loses in the NCAA Division II tourney on a walk-off grand slam
Kirk Goodwin Run raises money for bus crash victims
Look inside for a complete list of all May 2012 graduates
page 10
page 12
Abilene Christian University
acuoptimist.com
pages 2, 5-9, 11